Thrashers Olympic update and other quick shots
Just a couple of quickie notes here as we are now almost a week into this Olympic break…
First off… an update on some of the Thrashers players who are playing for their counties Olympic team in Vancouver. Toby Enstrom assisted on Mattias Ohlund’s second period goal as Sweden downed Germany 2-0 Wednesday night. Tuesday night Maxim Afinogenov assisted on Russia’s fourth goal on the way to an 8-2 thumping of Latvia. Max was credited with the secondary helper when Evgeni Malkin scored in the second period. Ilya Kovalchuk has the primary assist.
Oh, and I guess technically speaking, I should also mention Ilya Nikulin’s assist on Danis Zaripov’s goal that opened the scoring for Russia.
Today’s action will see team USA, who bet the Swiss 3-1 in their first game, taking on Norway…who was thumped 8-0 by Canada Tuesday afternoon. Russia will play Slovakia and Canada will match up against Switzerland.
USA woman’s hockey team…fresh off it’s 13-0 beat down of Russia 13-0 and their 12-1 pasting of China…will play Finland’s ladies today as well. Our gals have outscored their opponents 25-1 and will now be going up against a Finnish team that Beat China 2-1 and Russia 5-1.
Yes…I’m quite tired of the “Thrashers sold and moving to Winnipeg” yammering. Folks…it’s a fabricated story that was posted up on a Classic Rock station in western Canada. Period. It holds about as much credibility as if the guys from Dave FM posted up two lines on their website about Ted Turner buying the NBA Toronto Raptors and moving them to a city that lost their professional basketball team years ago…you know, like Buffalo, NY.
So…don’t give it any more attention then it deserves.
I’m currently working on a couple feature stories on Thrashers TV personalities Darrin Eliot and Matt McConnell. I had the chance to sit down with the two a couple weeks ago and hope you’ll enjoy reading about them and their thoughts on the team as much as I did chatting with them
If you are looking for a place to watch the USA vs. Canada game on Sunday, I hope you’ll join me at TJs on Holcomb Bridge to view it. NBC has chosen not to air the match…going with figure skating instead…but it will be on MSNBC.
And finally…just a reminder about the Party Bus that will take fans to the March 20th games when the Flyers are in town. The bus will depart from TJs at 5:00 and return there after the game. Along the way, prizes and drinks will be served up as well as great times with fellow Thrashers fans.
Contact Karin Beckman at 404-878-3781 or e-mail her at Karin.Beckman@atlantaspirit.com for more information.
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189 comments Add your comment
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
10:12 am
Tom, I have absolutely praised the Los Angeles kings “slow build” method. It’s tough to do, in a world that demands immediate gratification. But what do I always preach?
1. Patience.
2. Slow build. It’s a PROCESS. It’s a concept.
3. Use what the draft gives you – Don’t trade for players who don’t want to be here.
4. Don’t look for the “quick fix” free agent solutions.
5. Don’t make moves in desperation, use moderation and restraint.
6. Free agency is for ‘tweaking’ the roster, not OVERHAULING it
7. Don’t give away the store at the trade deadlines
8. Have an Identity – that’s the job of the GM, who then hires a coach to run it.
9. Play that system – make sure all the players buy into it. Trade those who won’t.
10. Don’t compromise on #1-9. The result? The Los Angeles, six years later. That’s how long they’ve been building. And now, they sit on the precipice of a legitimate 3-5 window for winning the Cup. It’s what can happen is you DON’T LET THE MEDIA dictate how you run your franchise.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
10:14 am
R.Stroz, point well taken. Why just at breakfast, I was looking at a product called “Grapenuts.” I opened it up. No grapes. No nuts. So, what’s the story there?
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
10:24 am
WBF, my Aunt lived on Brighton. (I honestly have no idea where that is. She has since moved to Grand Island.) Anywho, she once took me to the “Cider Mill,” and we had awesome cider. Then walked over to a place called, “Sweet Jenny’s,” where I had the best chocolate in my life. (We had pizza at a place called, “Santora’s???”) There’s library nearby, with a park, that is really very picturesque. I guess they hold an annual festival there. I told Auntie the place was really very charming. So, she said, “let’s go see the waterfall.” And there was another ajoining park with a very nice waterfall and … reaction area. Ducks and Canadian geese everywhere. Reminded my of the pond/creek area near where I grew up. In any event, I believe the name of the town we were in was called “Williamsville.” I want to say, off Main St. I’m thinking that … you might be familiar with it. At the other end of Main St., were the bars, including Frank and Theresa’s Anchor Bar, the famous one with the chicken wings. Along Main St. were ice cream shops named, “Friendly’s.” That’s right, “Friendly’s ice cream.” And I thought, as opposed to “Meanie’s ice cream?”
World Be Free
February 21st, 2010
10:26 am
Lee-looks pretty Canadian, kinda like bowling. You toss your rock then go have a beer. All they need is jerseys with their first names on the front.
Tom-the LA Kings suffer the same problems as the Thrashers-being in a 4 sport pro town + competing with college sports. They are on the 6th or 7th page of the sports page, just like Atlanta. Hockey is not the focus in either city. Hockey coverage in Atlanta on radio and TV is non-existent.
Brendan-you have hit the nail right on the head regarding the Kings, as usual. Lived in Buffalo for 30 years and saw alotta Curling Saturday afternoons on Canadian TV, so I am over any interest in Curling. I’d be more interested if they dropped their rocks and brooms and duked it out in the 11th end, ey?
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
10:37 am
R.Stroz, I was just watching the “Winter Classic” between Buffalo and Pittsburgh, and saw that Christensen was Pittsburgh’s first shooter. At the time, Colby Armstrong was on the Penguins.
Maybe it’s because they’ve just showed the LAK vs. the NYR from Vegas, the Montreal-Edmonton game, from Edmonton, Buffalo-Pittsburgh, from Ralph Wilson Stadium, and now Chicago-Detroit, from Wrigley Field, but my interest is outdoor games has now reached a saturation point. And yes, I did catch some of that AHL game between Syracuse and Binghampton.
The late Brendan Burke’s team, Miami of Ohio, has won the CCHA this year. They are wearing a commemorate patch in Burke’s honor. I also imagine they are dedicating the remainder of the season to him, as well. You’ll perhaps recall that Miami University was one of the “darlings” of last Year’s NCAA tournament, along with Bemidji State (it’s in Minnesota). These two schools were ranked 13th and 15th, I believe, yet met in the FROZEN FOUR, in the biggest moment of either school’s history. Miami did win, and advanced to the National Championship. Leading 3-1, with 1:03 left in the tournament, the #1 ranked team all year, the Boston University Terriers, rallied for two (2) late goals to force overtime. And about 11 minutes in, BU won the National title, completing an enormous choke by upstart Miami. But, Miami really had nothing for which to be ashamed. They were the #13 team in the field. If you asked them, at the beginning of the tournament, “How would you feel about being in the National Championship Game, in overtime, with the next goal for all the marbles?,” they would have likely jumped up and down for the opportunity. If Miami University can even get back to the Frozen Four, it’d be huge for their program. If Miami University won the national title this year, Leafs GM Brian Burke would probably break down and cry, while donating his entire year’s salary to the program, in gratitude.
Lee
February 21st, 2010
10:37 am
Anyone watch Super G last night? I’ll tell you, Lindsey Vonn didn’t get gold, she got bronze.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
10:47 am
WBF, I was just saying that, “curling would be way better if it were a FULL CONTACT sport.” As in, you run “pick plays,” try to deflect rocks as they tossed, towards the button. The brooms would not allowed to be used for sweeping, but instead, would be used for “boxing out” to let the rock pass through. And that, yes, there’s be hooking and holding penalties, too. With the occassional fight breaking out.
If Curling were like that, it’d be a truly awesome sport.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
10:53 am
Lee, I saw it. Lindsey Vonn went CONSERVATIVE, not taking any major chances to improve her time. It cost her a silver. She wound up taking bronze. And in her interview, afterwards, she said, “Well, hindsight being 20/20, I should have more aggressively attacked the course. But the method I used did result in another medal. So, I can’t complain about that.”
Yes, you could, Lindsey. You left your BEST effort on the Super G for another day. When … I can’t help but notice, that the event is occurring … AT … THE … OLYMPICS. Allright. Enough of that. If she’s happy with her bronze, then goody for her. The other athletes left NOTHING on the table, went for broke, not wanting to live with any regrets over effort, or what might have been. It’s four more LONG YEARS for next Super G event, at the Olympics.
World Be Free
February 21st, 2010
10:57 am
Brendan-that would make it “funner” that the current version!
Smoothie
February 21st, 2010
11:41 am
Goodness gracious this blog needs Thrashers hockey to resume; it can’t happen fast enough. Let’s hope the US men’s team can win at least 1 of 2 and advance to a quarter-final game. Better yet would be a win tonite but I have a bad feeling about tonite. Hope I’m wrong.
Brendan – I agree with your points on how to build a team but it was Dealin’ Donnie’s trades that ruined this franchise. It wasn’t till after the lockout in which he started signing every 32 or 33 y/o FA available like Bondra, Mell, Holik, Modry etc. Seems like he couldn’t resist making deal after deal after deal to acquire talent. Some worked (Savard, Hossa and deVries) but most failed to address the team’s lack of identity issue. Don fell prey tpo his own inflated sense of ability to gauge talent to ice a team that he thought was able to compete on a consistent basis. And he really got caught up in the post-lockout school of thought that believed wide open end to end hockey was the future of the NHL.
R. Stroz
February 21st, 2010
11:50 am
I was looking at a product called “Grapenuts.” I opened it up. No grapes. No nuts. So, what’s the story there?
Wonder if those marketing guys fed the Thrasher management with incremental progress, moving in the right direction, playoff guarantees, only one or two players from being as a serious Stanley Cup contender, building through the draft, and, the newest, moving in a different direction.
If someone didn’t know better, you’d think a degree in marketing equaled “how to be a sociopathic liar.”
Anyway, here’s my thought for the day:
If last year the Thrashers were “moving in the right direction” and this season they’re “moving in a different direction”, doesn’t that mean the Thrashers are moving in the wrong direction?
World Be Free
February 21st, 2010
11:54 am
Smoothie-what’s even worse will be the sprint to the end after the Olympic break.
Gotta go folks, just too nice outside to be insise. I can TiVo the first game today, can’t TiVo this beauty of a day when the top on my convertible needs to be down!
hoosier_hoser
February 21st, 2010
12:34 pm
Rawhide:
Could you give me a place to watch Canada-USA in Lima, Peru? Thanks a bunch!
Lee
February 21st, 2010
1:09 pm
Brendan- Also her teammate crashed. Anyways….I love watching the sport, but It’s so much more exciting when Vonn wins gold. I was laughing last night when one of the players had just finished her race and she was so excited; screaming and yelling, and she was so excited that she ran into the borders and hit herself with he ski.
I also find it interesting that Vonn uses men’s skates, but…she’s so strong, it probably isn’t that much different.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
3:37 pm
Pavel Kubina just speared Kovalchuk. It was nice to see. Czech Republic just scored. Tomas Plekanec. It’s knotted, 1-1, with the Russians.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
3:44 pm
WBF, it has been gorgeous outside today. We are spoiled by such nice weather. I don’t want to miss the 3rd period, however. It’s 1-1, after one, between Czech Republic and Russia. I haven’t peeked at the Olympic standings to know what’s on the line for this game.
World Be Free
February 21st, 2010
4:49 pm
Brendan-washed the convertible yesterday so I had to take it out today.
3-1 Russia; I wonder who Russian is cheering for?
Rawhide
February 21st, 2010
5:11 pm
hoosier_hoser – Lima, Peru??? Can’t help ya there…can’t say I’ve ever been in that city before.
Smoothie – Yeah, I can’t wait for Thrashers hockey to return. I love watching international play via the Olymics, but I’m ready to get this playoff stretch run under way.
WBF & Brendan – Yes it is indeed BEE-U-Tee-FUL outside today…and to that measure, it was just as nicein St. Augustine yesterday as well, maybe even a tad bit warmer. I left yesterday afternoon with the older tax exemption to follow the motor coach filled with the younger TE’s NJROTC unit and the Divine Mrs. R. They competed in the Area 12 Drill meet at Neese H.S., (home of Tim Tebow),…came in 6th out of 11 schools. However, the Academic Team my son captains placed 2nd overall. He was tied for 4th individually out of 165 cadets that took the test.
This is my explaination for the lack of new blog posts…sorry, but I took the weekend off.
Anywhooo…I spent the whole day outside and failed to bring a hat or sunscreen, which means I’ll be at TJs tonight sporting a nice sunburn.
Ah…but it feels good. Feels like spring/summer is right around the corner!
CZE just scored…3:1 Russia.
Hope to see you all tonight for the USA – Canada game at TJ’s…should be fun as always!
Mr. Heat Miser
February 21st, 2010
5:34 pm
So I guess you could say Jagr got Czeched by Ovie?
Lee
February 21st, 2010
5:47 pm
I think Jagr belongs in Czech. To see him come back to the NHL would not be a big suprise, but, he’s getting older and he shouldn’t play as seriously.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
7:16 pm
Lee, Waddell would sign Jagr in a heartbeat. Then Waddell would pick up the phone to personally call up R.Stroz to say, “What about how we never land Tier I free agents?”
To which R.Stroz would rightfully say, “The calendar says 2010, not 2000, Don.” Not too sure Jagr is even a Tier II guy anymore. And Lord knows what the salary parameters would be. But if Bobby Holik’s “past his prime” contract was any indicator, it’d be $4.25 million for Jagr.
Can you even imagine? Our big trade deadline move was to get “coach killer” Jagr? Hold up. If Jagr can kill coaches, (and sometimes teammates,) maybe the Jagr acquisition would finally spell the end of Waddell? C’mon Jagr! Become “GM killer,” too.
Ahhh, none of it will happen. And Don will be back, for another 2-3 years, as soon as the Atlanta Spirit, LLC AGREE to extend his contract, which … per Forbes Magazine … expires in the 2010 offseason. Stupid is … as stupid does, right? The funniest thing, of ALL, to me … is this. The Atlanta Spirit, LLC is perhaps BEST KNOWN for “inaction and procrastination.” To be rid of Waddell, all they have to do … is continue the trend!!
In other words, if Waddell’s contract expires, but isn’t renewed, Don Waddell is NO LONGER the GM of the Thrashers. All they have to do … is NOTHING … to be rid of him. But watch! They’ll get that contract writing pen out. And all the sports writers in North America will laugh, and laugh … and laugh. And rightfully so.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
7:19 pm
Ya know what? I feel a new contest coming on. I think so! Okay, bloggers, the next contest is … “Predict the date that Waddell’s contract gets renewed.” I’ll get us starting. My guess … is April 1st. What more appropriate day could there be … than “April Fool’s Day.” Part II of the contest, for HOW LONG will the contract be renewed. I’m going with … two more years.
Lee
February 21st, 2010
7:38 pm
Brendan – Do you happen to know how much Jagr was getting paid when he was on the Rangers? Wasn’t he like a wallet buster or something?
As for Don Waddell I feel that he’ll be renewed on that day too, but I hope he never is renewed. Go on Waddell…waddle yourself outta here! Trust me, no one will miss you.
World Be Free
February 21st, 2010
7:47 pm
Can’t remember what Jagr was making; we carried that massive contract from Washington with him to NYC.
Rawhide-congrats on your son’s achievement. Nice that you made it a family affair, especiallt to Tebow-Land. Those are special moments. I did those travels for marching band for five years, times you never forget.
kracker
February 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
End 1st 2-1 USA!!! USA USA USA USA USA USA! What’s up with Rafalski?? And I love seeing Marty getting pressured when he’s behind the net playing the puck! Jack him up!! If a goalie is behind the net, he should be just another skater as long as you are playing for control of the puck and not mashing the goalie into the glass…though we know the reality is a lot different.
kracker
February 21st, 2010
9:17 pm
End 1st 3-2 USA!!! USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA!!!! This is good hockey! Is it Miller Time? Stay tuned…
kracker
February 21st, 2010
9:18 pm
Oops…that is end of 2nd 3-2…sheesh
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
9:24 pm
To the best of my recollection, Jagr was on an 8-year deal, at $11 million each. But I forgot what year he signed that deal, which was THENNN with Washington. But remember, when the lockout ended, all contracts were rolled back 24-percent. Which I was always curious about, since the max cap hit was $7.8 million, in 2005, when the Lockout ended. Well, even reduced by 24-percent, Jagr’s contract still exceeded the max cap hit allowed. But everything was so “hushed up” about it. Not even NHLnumbers.com listed what/how much Washington carried of Jagr’s contract, once he became a Ranger. And that was a deal where both teams were simultaneously paying him. But I just answered my own question. Perhaps the portion Washington continued to pay Jagr brought what the NY Rangers were paying him to $7.8 million or less, thus making his contract “workable” under the new CBA? But, I really couldn’t say. I haven’t checked Nhlnumbers.com in a while. But I believe the NY Islanders are still carrying Yashin’s deal, unless that ended last year.
Team USA 3, Team Canada 2, entering the 3rd period.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
9:32 pm
4-2, USA!!
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
9:34 pm
Jamie Langenbrunner, from Rafalski. And Crosby just now made a spectacular play that someone didn’t wind up in the Team USA net. Nash BLEW the wide open net on the sweet pass from Crosby. Another blown opportunity by Canada.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
9:53 pm
KESLER SCORES!!!! USA 5, Canada 3
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
9:56 pm
In pre-game, Kesler said, “I hate them. I hate the way they think they’re entitled to this medal. I’m going to do everything I can do stop them.” And remember, “he’s a LOCAL boy,” as a member of the Vancouver Canucks. Media played it up. And look who’s laughing now???
It’s a final. Team USA 5, Team Canada 3. The U.S. has earned an extra day off. They’re first round results? 3-0-0, for 9-points.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
9:58 pm
There’s a hush at BC place. 18,000 Canadians … are in STUNNED disbelief.
kracker
February 21st, 2010
10:00 pm
WOW! Was thaat great or what?? Feels like a Gold but there’s more games to play
USA USA USA!!
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
10:06 pm
Keep an eye out for Mike Babcock, to blow a vein in his forehead, in the post-game presser. If ever there were a candidate for a Dennis Greene, a John McEnroe, a Jim Mora, Sr. moment, it’s Babcock.
Let me explain why. It had nothing to do with officiating. Or anything like that. His Red Wings were expected to repeat last year. They didn’t, despite being up, 3-2 in the series with Pittsburgh. His Red Wings were supposed to clinch the Central division, for the umpteenth time in-a-row, by the trade deadline. His Red Wings are in 10th place in the Western Conference. His Team Canada was expected to be 3-0-0 right now. They are 1-1-1, for 5-points. (one 3-point win, one shootout win over Switzerland.)
Mike Babcock made his name as the Head Coach of the Anaheim Ducks, in 2003. So impressed were the Red Wings, whom he defeated, that Detroit made him THEIR Head Coach, as soon as it were legally permitted. This is Babcock’s contract year, I believe. And while I doubt anyone really thinks he’s bad coach, some of the luster of that Stanley Cup polish is fading. Make no mistake, I’d take Mike Babcock in a heartbeat, for Atlanta. Not that he’d come here. But for Babcock, “to whom much is given, much is EXPECTED.” And right about now … he’s wondering why the Hockey Gods seem to have forsaken him.
Brendan
February 21st, 2010
10:23 pm
How much HEAVIER did the BURDEN of hosting this event, and the expectations of Gold for Canada, just become? I bet their media is eating them alive right now.
Smoothie
February 21st, 2010
10:26 pm
Juck Fagr!
Cuck Fanada!
somaatl95
February 21st, 2010
10:31 pm
USA! USA! USA! How wonderful your maple flavored tears taste, you Molson Drinking, Kids in the Hall Watching, Calling Ham “Canadian Bacon” hosers! I have great ammo for the next time some off the wall northern city says they want to take the Thrashers away – Hockey is now American all the way! USA! USA! USA!
Lee
February 22nd, 2010
3:23 pm
Man, can’t say I’m happy that USA won, but I’m not sad. I live in the US now, but I grew up in Canada…I will have to say I was going for Canada.